Filing-case for maps



H. J. ADAMS.

FILING CASE FOR MAPS. APPLICATION HLED sEPT.2|,1918.

Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

FZ7 Z H; 1. ADAMS.

' FILING CASE FOR MAPS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-21,1918.

Patented Mar. 3051920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'H. J. ADAMS.

FILING CASE FOR MAPS.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT.21,191a.

- 1,335,4:1 5. Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

narran sfrerns PATENT GFFXCE.

HERBERT annales, QF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

` Turner-cass ron` MAPS.

Application iled Septemberl, 1918. Serial 1\To`l 255,137.

T0 all whom t may concern Be it known that l, HERBERT J. ADAMs,.-a citizen ofthe United States, residing atBattle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented a new-and useful Filingase for Maps, of whichfthe following is a specification. l

The purpose of my invention is to provide a compact receptacle for maps, drawings, charts, tabulations, pictures Aand similar articles, insuring means for *greater* safety Athan now yknown against the wear and tear ofsuch articles'when frequently referred to7 and .aording y.a greater degree of convenience in the iiling,.selection from the mass and withdrawal therefrom, of such articles,land for inspection of them While attached to the case, the provision being for hanging the maps flat therein and withdrawing the same practically without interference by others.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichy Figure 1 is a front View of theinterior of the case with the door opened down to horizontal plane, carrying the cover Aand supported on the ribs, alsol a map hungby right and left hanger clips and one map supported .at Vthe center by a single clip, maps being identified in the drawings by numeral 28. f v l Fig. 2 is an end view showing the door open toa point `short of separating the spin dle and socket.' Fig. 3 is ka similar View showing the spindle and socket. separated for ling maps, and in dash line showing the door supported on the. ribs.

Fig. 4' shows top portion of door and portion of coverriding same and the doorchecking mechanism. (See plan `view Fig. 9.)

Fig. 5 shows the parts` of the hanger-c`lip out of position. Fig. 6 is the7 clipfastened to a map, and the marking plate, both strung on the' spindle. shown as to a portion. Fig. 7 shows portion ofv the rib with theJ door hinge-arm thereon in positionforfsupporting the'door horizontal position.

Fig..8-is a viewin perspective of` the vseparating plate. (An end portion of the same is shown inFig. l.) Fig. 9 is a planwiewof the door-checking mechanism. Fig. ,10 is a view in perspective of the button in. position holding the .r.loorandcouer clo. ee;d.V

3, the door 4, forming when closed: the front v wall, and the cover 5, all preferably made of material suited to other oiiice furniture, the back and end walls and floor being permanently fastened together. In closed po-v sition vthe door fits in betweenthe end'walls', iioor andcover, and swings open and shut parts onrthe curved lowerends of the ribs 25,

hereinafter described,and clear'of the floor.

The cover, carrying door-checking ,hookf v arms hereinafter described, is inserted to closing position between cleatson the-end walls on the front edges of'which the buttons'lG-l, carrying lugs-.17 L7, are pivoted. When in position holding the door and cover closed (Fig. 110) vthevlug .bears flat j againstthe end wall. vVhen turned outl of such lockingposition the lug swingsxdown tobear edgewise against the wall, the pivot hole in the button being e'ccentrically lo-V cated, Vmaking' it top-heavy, so that it will have tendency to rest either fully in, 'or i fully out of, latching position. The flanges, or angles, shown on the button are only wide enough yfor stiifening merely, `in. casethe material, preferably 4sheet metal,is so thin as to. require it, the buttons'beingnecessary only whenrit is required-.to Amovethe'case about. The front edge of thecoverlis made;

extrathick with a shoulder formingza pull. Similar' cleats are carried by the back wall tostay the back'edge ofthe cover.

The filing mechanismy consists of spindle L11-fastened to the back wall and forwardly projecting and the corresponding rear' d wardly projecting socket 8v, fastened tothe door, both being in lengthapproximating v thev horizontal depth'of the case, andbeing formed longitudinally to describe arcs of a circle. centering, at the bottomofathe door,

and are in relative position causing the` socket-to entirely ensheath the ,spindle upon n closing the door.' The spindle andsocket, are-made of metal and are each stiff enoughf,

to `support-all the mapsiiled in a case hav 'f ingfonej spindle and socket; only. lwithout Y.

sagging. when not united with thefother.

'The socket is beveled-.ofil on top'atitspoint"Y perrn-itting itwhennneloslng the Spi-Helle to slide freely through the openings in the inap-hangers, marking plates and separating plate (hereinafter described) that may be strung upon the spindle.

Only one spindle and corresponding socket is essential to my invention, thatA Hanger-clips are provided to grip the` edges of maps and for Stringing on the spindle or socket, one or more being used for each map according to convenience, composed of the folio 19, preferably made of sheet metal, having holes in one leaf (Fig. 5) and two slits in line of the fold, and an L- shaped bar, or square 20, carrying knobs 21 21. I prefer to form the square Vby folding a straight bar of sheet metal and pressing the fold down'flat only after'inserting the knobbed legs through the slits with the knobs registering in the holes, the legs being thus spread beyond the limits of the slits, so that the square is locked in the folio, but movable permitting the knobs to be carried beyond the edge thereof. Upon inserting the edge of a map inthe folio above the knobs and drawing the knobs opposite the holes it is bound in the folio ready for Stringing upon spindle or socket through the space then acquired inside the angle of the square. Maps having a dimension greater than the height of the case or its width between the end walls may be conveniently filed by using the hanger-clips on opposite edges of the map, resulting in a horizontal fold when suspended, or by using two or more of the hanger-clips on the same edge, and inserting the map in the case folded, such a fold then standing in vertical position at the left or right, as the case may be, of the spindle and socket support,ror supports. In either case both leaves of the folio are independently supported. In case the massof maps filed embrace a variety of sizes usually the above `manner of filing the over-sized maps referred to would i11- volve little dangerof creasing them at such Y folds.

A platel22, preferably made of thin sheet metal is provided for carrying a marking cardy foreach map filed, (Fig. 6) the sameA having a hole large enough to receive Fthe socket freely, and at one side of the weight center, and havingrfolded edges',1the'hang Vof the plate onl the spindle or socket tending Vto hold said4 edges vertical, which carryinserted' between thema marking card above the hole, the folded edges at the'same time heights.

stifl'ening the plate which serves also as a buffer in the use of the separating plate mentioned. f

Said separating plate 18, is made of sheet metal, in length horizontally spanning the maps filed, has a slot in the blade correspond to each socket used for letting it down in vertical plane between the maps, and has a fold in the upper edge for a hand hold and stiffening, and serves to shove all maps on either side, simultaneously when more than one spindle is used, onto the spindles and sockets respectively when the door is to be opened for filing or withdrawing maps, and is then left to rest against those remaining on the spindles, or spindle, as the case may be, holding their tops from buckling. (Fig. 8, and Fig. 1 partly cut away) s The door is hinged, or anchored, to the caseV (see Figs. 3 and 7) by arms 23 23, carried on the bottom corners thereof and projecting into the case. The flat shelf bracket knownV tov commerce, when slotted in an edge at the angle serves for these arms, the slot in each arm affording travel-way for the vertical ribs 25 25, on said end walls,

the wings 24: 24, formed by the slots in the arms lapping behind the ribs, which carry series of teethf 26 26, at vcorresponding The maps are preferably filed facing the back, so that when the door is opened wide the top map of the mass strungv on the sockets is exposed to view. Raising the door to desired height on the ribs and settling it to horizontal plane the legs of thearms 'fastened to it engage said teeth at the lower edges of the slots, the arms being ,fastened to the door in position to hold it clear of the teeth, the opposing bearing thus induced against the ribs, in conjunction with the leveling teeth, sustains the door in such horizontal open position. The lower ends of the ribs are curved forward 27 V27, servingas bearings for the door inV swinging yopen and shut.

vI provide mechanism for 'checking the door in differing open positions, as vfollows': (detail views 4 and 9.) arms 9 9, are fastened to the cover near its back corners, and project into the case, being preferably made of spring steel. have hook formations 10, 10, directed crosswise the" cover and slanting toward it causing them upon drawing thecover forward from itshorizontal position on'the case and tipping it flat against the top of thev door to lodge on the edge of the latter. 'In such position hooks 11 11, are in line to. engage on swinging the door outward, theflugs 12 The liook- They 12, on the horizontal bars 13, 13, `sliding Y eachthrough a single staple'on theV end walls and guidedand held back 'along same through loops fastened to the backwall, engagement of saidV hooks and lugsY taking place when the door is opened to position short of disconnection of spindle andfsocket to effect spreading of the hanging space thereon for convenient cutting out of a particular map filed or to make way for filing. At the convenience of the operator either the right or left end of the cover may l then be shoved downcausing the corresponding hook l0, to impinge on the door throwing the corresponding hook and lug out of engagement and relieving the pull on the door from one of the weights. This allows the door to be more easily swung farther outward to position of separation of spindle and socket suliicient for convenient insertion or withdrawal of maps, the movement drawing out its full length the remaining horizontal bar, release of the door from which then being afforded by depressing to impinge on the door the end of the cover remaining up in first position mentioned, and the door may then be adjusted to horizontal position by grasping the same by its edges in any manner convenient to the operator. F or clearness of illustration I'have described and shown the weights mentioned, but where it is necessary for much moving of the case about I would prefer substituting for the weights tension springs requiring very little space and anchored to the case below the bars.

As shown in Fig. 11 beards 29 and 30, are formed on the spindle and socket respectively to prevent the parts strung thereon from being jarred or shoved off when the Stringing space is filled to capacity or nearly so or when there has been inadvertent failure to properly assemble the maps before separation of said spindle and socket. The beards are formed at positions on the spindle and socket below their upper planes, and do not interfere with Stringing or removing sheets on or from the spindle and socket since their removal involves slightly lifting them from the top; and when the spindle and socket are telescoped the beards are out of range of the bearing edge of the sheets or sheet hangers, and so are rendered inoperative as keepers, or retainers, against accidental slipping off of the sheets, and become neutral and ineffectual to interfere with the free shifting of the sheets or hangers from either one, the spindle or the socket, to the other. v

Unless it is desired to fasten the case to the room wall it is convenient to use braces, for which purpose the kind of bracket supports mentioned will do, fastening them inverted to the front edges of the end walls of the case with one leg projecting along the floor of the room. The cover having horizontal position on the case is partially in.

view of economy ,in vertical space, the better permitting one 'case to rest on `top of Yanother, such brackets' as mentioned serving i which is then swung outward until checked by engagement of the hooks projecting from the cover with the lugs projecting inward fromv the bars on the end walls, the move-- ment resulting in withdrawing the spindle to position nearly clear of the socket for shifting a portion or all of the mass of maps suspended on the latter onto the former', and for cutting out a particular map tobe` withdrawn, or a Vparticular location inv such mass Vfor the insertion of'one, upon separation of spindle and socket. Upon depressing one end ofthe cover down on the door to the point of relieving the corresponding hook-lug vengagement the door is then opened Vto the limit of forward movement ofthe lug opposite the other end of the cover, -which movement of the door leaves l the sockets and spindles separated for the insertion or withdrawal of a map. Depressing said other end of the cover Von the door relieves it from the remaining hook-lug engagement when the door may be opened asv much wider as desired or adjusted on the case in horizontal plane as hereinbefore described.A I make the teeth on the ribs by slashing the edges thereof and setting forward the under lips, and tipping the'front edge of the door up withdraws the anchor arms from seat on the teeth, allowing ribs and teeth to pass through the` slots in the arms as the bottom of the door is lowered to position for .closing tight without mechanical interference, the tension affecting the bars on the end walls having drawn them back into the case.

l'lO

Having` fully described my invention, i

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent iszl. In a structure of the classi described, the combination with a casing comprising rear and end walls, adoor for the front ofl said casing, uprights on theend walls, brackets at the lower end of said door engaged with said uprights for vertical and swinging adjustment thereon so that the door may be tilted or adjusted to a horizontal position at different elevations, a sliding cover for saidcasing collapsible against the front of the door and provided with arms having offsets therein engageable `with the upper edge of the door for supporting the cover in its collapsed position, and counterweight slides mounted on` said end walls to be engaged by said arms when the door is opened. 13e

for counterbalancing and supporting itin partially open position.

2. In a structure of the class-described, theV combination of a casing, a door and means for mounting the door at its lower end for pivotal and vertical adjustment so that it may be tilted or elevated and adjusted to a horizontal position, a cover adapted to collapse against the front of the door and provided with an arm projecting rearwardly when so collapsed, andv a counterbalance member adapted to'be engagedby said arm to support the door in tilted position.

3. In a structure of Vthefclass described,l the combination of a casing, a door and means for mounting the door atv its lower end for vertical and pivotal adjustment so that it may be tilted or elevated and adjusted to a horizontal position, a cover adapted to collapse against the front of the door and provided .with van arm projecting rearwardly when so collapsed, and a counter-T balance member adapted to be engaged by said arm to support the door in tilted position, coacting telescoping spindle members on the door and casing adapted for supporting sheets or sheet hangers strung thereon and for permitting the sheets to be freely shifted singly or in mass from one spindle member to the other when they are telescoped, upwardly projecting beard members integral on the ends of the spindle members adapted for retaining the sheets from accidentally slipping off the spindle members when they are separated while permitting their free manual Stringing thereon or removal therefrom, and for being automatically rendered neutral, and non-interfering with the shifting oi said sheets on said spindle members when they are telescoped.

HERBERT J. ADAMS. 

